North Carolina private well rules

Who certifies well contractors in North Carolina

The state Environmental Management Commission writes the rules for where wells go, how they are built, repaired and abandoned, and how pumps are installed and repaired.

The North Carolina Well Contractors Certification Commission examines, certifies and disciplines well contractors. Its staff unit is part of the NC Department of Health and Human Services.

State well rules are in 15A NCAC 02C. Most counties enforce the state rules, but some enforce their own rules that are more protective.

Sources: Counties run private well programs; Well Contractors Certification Commission; Some counties have stricter rules

Who may work on a well pump

In North Carolina, no one may perform, manage or supervise well contractor work without state certification, unless an exemption applies.

A pump installer who is not a plumber needs at least Level D well contractor certification. Work beyond breaking the well seal or disinfecting, such as extending casing, needs Level C or higher.

A licensed plumber may break the well seal and disinfect the well to install or replace a pump, if the plumber took training in well seals and disinfection within the past two years. Other well work needs certification.

Owners do not need certification to install, repair or abandon a well on their own property for their own use, but the work must still meet state and local well standards.

A county repair permit is not needed when the work is only repairing or replacing a pump or tank.

Sources: Certification required; Pump installers need Level D; No repair permit for pump or tank work

Does the state require well testing?

Within 30 days after it issues a certificate of completion for a new private well, the local health department must test the water or make sure a certified lab tests it.

The required test for a new well covers arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, copper, fluoride, lead, iron, magnesium, manganese, mercury, nitrate, nitrite, selenium, silver, sodium, zinc, pH and bacteria.

After the first test, no further testing is required by law. NC DHHS says it is up to the well owner to test regularly.

NC DHHS recommends testing for bacteria every year, and for heavy metals, nitrates, nitrites, lead and copper every two years.

NC DHHS says to test well water after any well part is repaired or replaced, and after flooding.

Sources: New wells must be tested; Existing wells are the owner's job

Getting your water tested in North Carolina

Private well water can be tested by the NC State Laboratory of Public Health, through the local health department, or by a state certified commercial lab. Procedures and fees vary by county.

Homeowners can get chemical tests from the State Lab only when the sample is sent through the local health department.

The State Lab sends drinking water bacteria results within two working days of receiving the sample. If coliform bacteria are present, the water is considered unsafe to drink.

The State Lab's Full Well Panel tests for metals and minerals including arsenic, lead, iron and manganese, plus nitrate and nitrite, pH, hardness and total coliform and E. coli bacteria.

The State Lab fee schedule that started July 1, 2021 lists $74.00 for the Full Well Panel. This is the lab's charge to submitters, and counties may charge owners their own testing fee, so ask your county for the current price.

Sources: Two ways to test; Chemistry only through the health department; Bacteria results; What the full well panel covers; State Lab fee for the full panel (2021 schedule)

Disinfecting a well

Anyone who builds, repairs, tests, maintains or installs a pump in a water supply well must disinfect the well when the work is done.

The rule requires enough hypochlorite to reach a chlorine level of at least 100 parts per million in the well. Stabilized chlorine tablets and products with added fungicides or algaecides are not allowed.

The chlorine solution must stay in the well for at least 24 hours.

Disinfecting a well is maintenance under the rules and does not need a county repair permit.

NC DHHS strongly recommends having the local health department or a well driller shock chlorinate a well that has been flooded, and testing the water before drinking it.

Sources: Disinfect after any pump or well work; No permit needed to disinfect; After a flood, call a professional

Plugging an unused well

No one may permanently abandon (plug) a private drinking water well without first getting a well abandonment permit from the local health department.

There is generally no cost to the owner for a well abandonment permit.

The well owner is responsible for permanently abandoning a well, unless the need comes from a contractor's or pump installer's faulty work.

A well that is a source or channel of contamination must be repaired or permanently abandoned within 30 days of notice from the state.

Well abandonment is well contractor work that needs Level C or higher certification, unless the owner does it on their own land.

Sources: Abandonment permit required; Abandonment permits are usually free; Owner is responsible; Level C or higher to plug wells

Checking a contractor's certification

NC DHHS keeps a searchable list of every well contractor certified to work in North Carolina.

Certified contractors carry a wallet card with a photo and the dates their certification is valid. Ask to see it.

The contractor's certification level sets what work they may do, so check that the level fits the job. Pump repair needs at least Level D, and plugging a well needs Level C.

A company that is not certified and sells well work must use a certified contractor and tell the landowner in writing the contractor's name, certification number and employer before the work starts.

Sources: State list of certified contractors; Written disclosure if work is subcontracted